For Subaru’s 2018 update, the name Legacy is especially apt because this family sedan carries on without any major eye-opening changes. The 2018 update does bring small alterations to both exterior and interior appearance, claimed improvements in refinement, added technology, and bolstered safety content. The Legacy finally now has Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. But this Subie is still a familiar character.

The model lineup remains the same: The 2.5i packs a 175-hp 2.5-liter four-cylinder boxer engine, while the 3.6R has a 256-hp 3.6-liter flat-six. A continuously variable automatic transmission (CVT) with a manual mode and paddle shifters to toggle through simulated gears remains the only transmission option, and the engine’s computer brain has been retuned to provide quicker and smoother throttle response. Of course, all-wheel drive with torque vectoring is standard on every Legacy. The 2.5i is available in base, Premium, Sport, and Limited trims, while the 3.6R comes as the top-spec Limited only.

The front end of the Legacy has been slightly reworked to give a more planted, sportier appearance. The new fascia has wider and lower air intakes, and the hexagonal grille is now broader. The 2018 model year also sees a restyled rear bumper with integrated tailpipes, new wheel designs, and two new colors (Magnetite Gray Metallic and Crimson Red Pearl).

Retuned and Reduced

While the Impreza sedan and hatchback introduced all-new platform architecture for 2018, the Legacy has the same bones as before—they’ve just been refined. Subaru has retuned the suspension with dampers that Subaru claims diminish both ride harshness and body roll. The automaker also says it dialed in more linear power steering and improved brake feel. The Legacy’s cabin should be quieter, too, thanks to tweaks to the powertrain, reshaped side mirrors for less wind noise, an insulating film applied to the front-side glass, and thicker rear wheel-well insulation.

Playing Tech Catch-Up

Interiors have never been Subaru’s strong suit, but its cabin tech is finally getting with the times. As part of improved, faster Starlink integration, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are newly available. Those services will now be displayed on a standard 6.5-inch multimedia screen (replacing a 6.2-inch system) or an optional 8.0-inch display (replacing a 7.0-incher). Bluetooth phone connectivity and audio streaming, iPhone audio control, a single USB port, and an auxiliary jack remain standard on all Legacys equipped with the Starlink system, while dual front and rear USBs, smartphone integration, cloud applications, and TomTom navigation come on higher-trim levels. Subaru also touts improved voice-recognition controls thanks to two microphones in the cabin.

A redesigned center console surrounds the multimedia system, and the steering wheel also is new. Upper trim levels offer real stitching on the dash, seats, and door panels as well as high-gloss black trim and silver-colored bezels. A third interior color choice, gray, joins black and ivory.

Subaru also added to its list of available active-safety features. Subaru’s EyeSight camera and sensor system already included adaptive cruise control, pre-collision braking, lane-departure warning, lane-keeping assist, blind-spot detection, and rear cross-traffic alert. New for 2018 are adaptive headlights and high-beams that automatically steer into turns and switch their beams according to traffic, plus tire-pressure monitoring. The standard rearview camera feeds a display screen marked with guidelines that move in sync with the driver’s steering inputs.

In sum, the 2018 Legacy sees a comprehensive array of small changes. But given that the Legacy—like Subaru as a whole—just came off another year of rising sales, one could argue that it didn’t need much more.

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